Filing means for railroad tariffs, circulars, &amp;c.



W. G. SPANGLE 8: G. W. PARSONS. FILING MEANS FOR RAILROAD TARIFFS,GIROULARS, &c.

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W. G. SPANGLE & G. W. PARSONS.

FILING MEANS FOR RAILROAD TARIFFS, GIRGULARS, 6m.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 3,1908.

Patented Jan. 12. 1909.

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G. SPANGLE & G. W. PARgONS. FILING MEANS FOR RAILROAD TARIFFS,GIRGULARS, 6w.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 3,1908.

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W. G; SPAN'GLE & G. W. PARSONS.

FILING MEANS FOR RAILROAD TARIPIS, GIRO'ULARS, 6w.

Patent ed Jan; 12, 1909.

APPLICATION PILED SEPT, 3,19%.

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Patented Jan. 12. 1909.

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, W. G. SPANGLE & G. W. PARSONS.

FILING MEANS FOR RAILROAD TARIFIS, GIRGULARS, 6:0.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 3,1908.

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W.G.SPANGLE&;G.W1PARSON& FILING MEANS FOR RAILROAD TARIPFS, GIRGULARS,6w. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 3,1908.

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WILLIAM G. SPANGLE, OF MILTON, AND GEORGE W. PARSONS, OF WILLIAMSPORT,PENNSYLVANIA.

FILING MEANS FOR RAILROAD TARIFFS, CIRCULARS, 850.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 12, 1909.

Application filed September 3, 1908. Serial No. 451,509.

[0 all whom it: may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM G. SPAN- one and Gnonon W. PARSOL s,citizens of the United States, and residents of Milton, Nortlnnnberlandcounty, and Vl illiamsport, Lycoming county, respectively, in the Stateof Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inFiling Means for Railroad Tariffs, Circulars, &c., of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to a filing system for railroad tariffs, generalnotices, circu lars, etc. its object is to provide means by which thevarious agents of a railroad system may keep the tariffs, generalnotices, circulars and similar papers sent him in such shape that theycan be easily and quickly found and referred to as occasion demands. .tincludes means by which any particular paper may be identified and foundby a knowledge of the subject to which it relates, the railroad to whichit relates, or its number. it contemplates the use of the same characterof filing means by all of the agents of a system whereby any agent oremployee may easily find any paper desired in any oflice belonging tothe company, whether it is his own oiiice or the oliice of some otheragent.

To the ends above indicated our invention contemplates the use of anydesired number of loose leaf binders lettered consecutively, and in thedrawing we have shown them lettered from A to N, each containingseparating leaves or sheets carrying guide numbers and sub-indexnumbers. The guide numbers are consecutively arranged and the sub-indexnumbers are arranged consecutively upon succeeding sheets under eachguide number. The tariffs, circulars, etc. are placed each in its properbinder between the leaves under the proper index number and propersub-index number, which are ascertained by the means here afterdescribed. In combination with this loose leaf binder we use two indexesar ranged alphabetically, one indicating the railroad referred to in thecircular, and the other indicating the subject-matter of the circular.It will be understood that each circular is entered in each of theseindexes at the proper place and opposite each entry there is placed theletter of the loose leaf binder in which the circular is placed togetherwith index and sub-index numbers of the leaves in that binder where thecircular appears. These indexes are to be printed and furnished to eachof the agents so as to insure that there will be uniformity in filingthe circulars in the loose leaf binders by the various agents, and sothat the same circular will be placed by all agents in the same binderand under the same index and sub-index numbers. e also use a third indexfor the purpose of identifying the circulars etc. by means of thenumbers and other series indicating marks which are placed thereon, whenthey are printed. This index has pages numbered consecutively from ()0to 99 and the various circulars, orders, etc. are entered therein on thepage having the number corresponding with the last two numerals of thenumber printed on the circular. The circulars are entered in this indexonly by numbers, but in connection with the number there is entered anyseries indicating marks printed on the circulars as well as the letterof the loose leaf binder in which the circular is to be placed and theproper index and sub-index number in that binder where the circularappears. By this index any circular may be found in the loose leafbinder even if its subject-matter and the road to which it relates arenot known so long as its number is known. The three indexes abovementioned are made up of loose leaves placed in binders so thatsubstitutions may be made as desired and for convenience the first twoindexes may be placed in a single binder.

For convenience, in the following description we will refer to thevarious indexes respectively as name index, subject-matter index andnumber index.

Our invention will be more fully understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings taken in connection with the following descriptionthereof.

In the drawings: Figure l is a view of a cabinet containing the elementswhich go to make up our invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of theloose leaf binder which contains the orders, notices, etc; Fig. 3 is aplan view of one page of the binder show ing a freight tariif in place;Fig. 4 is a plan view of another page of the binder showing anothertariff Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the name index; Fig. 6 is aperspective View of the name index open at a difierent page; Fig. 7 is aperspective view of the subject-matter index; Fig. 8 is a similar viewof the index open at a different page Fig. 9 is apers'pectiv'e view ofthe number index; Fig. 10 is a plan view of a portion of one pagecontained in the number index; and Fig. 11 is a perspective view of theinoperative order file. I

As shown in these drawings the cabinet 1 is provided with shelves 2which receive the loose leaf binders 3, which binders are consecntivelylettered from A to N. This cabinet also holds the binders 4 and 5 whichcontain the indexes. At the bottom of the cabinet drawers 6' may beprovided for containing stationery, letters, etc. It will be understoodthat all of the loose leaf binders for the orders, etc, are constructedalike, and therefore it is necessary to describe only one of them.

It will be seen by reference to Fig. 2 that the loose leaf binder 3 isconstructed in the ordinary way to contain loose leaves or other papers.In this binder we place a series of loose leaves or sheets marked onvisible margins with consecutive numbers,- in this instance the numbersgoing from 1 to 6. These leaves are what we term index leaves, and thenumbers thereon are the index numbers. Between any two of these indexleaves we place a series of sub-index leaves as illustrated in Fig. 3,which sub-index leaves are shown narrower, so that their margins do notshow beyond the edge of the index leaves. The sub index leaves need notbe narrower so" long as the tabs or extensions containing the numbersare so arranged that the index and sub-index numbers are readilydistinguishable. This may be eifected where the leaves are the samewidth by having the index numbers extend beyond the sub-index numbers onlonger'tabs or extensions. These sub-index leaves are consecutivelynumbered upon'visible margins, and each leaf contains, in addition toits consecutive numbering, the number of the index leaf under which itis placed.-

' It will be understood that the circulars, notices, orders, etc., areplaced in their proper positions between the proper sub-index leaves,and are there secured in the binder. The particular place in the binderswhere any particular notice or order is to go is determined at the main,oiiice of the company and is indicated in the index system hereafterdescribed, which is furnished to each of the agents.

All orders, notices and circulars are entered in the name indexillustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, and they are placed therein alphabeticallyupon the proper pages according to the name of the railroad to whichthey refer. The name of the railroad is en tered in this index andunderneath the name there is entered information as to the subjectmz'itter or character of each notice or order orders.

relating. to that road, and opposite the entry relating to each orderthere is placed the letter of the loose leaf binder in which thatparticular order is placed as well as the index number and the sub-indexnumber of the pages between which the order appears. For instance, inFig. 6, under the head of Boston & Maine Railroad there is an 'entry ofan order relatmg to leather via VVilkes-Barre, and opposite this entryis the entry A1-l, thus indicating that the order here referred to isplaced in the loose leaf binder marked A under the index leaf 1, and thesub-index leaf 1. From this index therefore the agent may easily andquickly turn to the order in the loose leaf binder.

The subject-matter index shown in Figs. 7 and 8 is made up of looseleaves held together in a binder upon which leaves the various ordersare entered according to the subject-matter to which they relate. Forinstance, as shown in Fig. 8, on the page marked at the margin 'L thereare entries relating to lumber and leather. Under these subject-mattertitles the names of the railroads referred to in the particular ordersare entered and opposite each entry there is entered the letter of theloose leaf binder in which the order appears, as well as the index andsub-index numbers of the pages between which it is placed. stance itwill be noticed that the'entry of leather on the Boston & Maine Railroadvia Vilkes Ba-rr'e has opposite to it A11, and it will be seen byreference to Fig. 3 that theorder referring to this subject-matter isplaced in the binder A under the index number 1 and the sub-indexnumber 1. The leaves of this index as well as the name index areremovable and are furnished to the agents by the main office so as tosecure uniformity in filing. These two indexes for convenience we bindin a single loose leaf binder, but it is of course clear that they mightbe bound separately.

The orders, circulars and notices sent out by the railroad system arenumbered and also have thereon certain series and subjectmatterindicating marks. For instance the tariff shown in Fig. 3 has markedupon its upper right hand corner I. C. C.G #1514. It is sometimesdesirable to find an order or circular when nothing is known in regardto it by the agent, except its numher, and for this purpose we haveprovided the number index shown in Figs. 9 and 10. As will be seen thisindex is made up of a loose leaf binder containing leaves consecutivelynumbered from O0 to 99. The orders, circulars, etc. are classified andentered in this index in accordance with the last two numerals of thenumbers of the various For instance, all orders whose numbers end in 14:are entered on page 14: as indicated in Fig. 9. On the same line withthe In this particular innumber of the order we enter the letter of theloose leaf binder in which the order ap pears, together with the indexand sub-index numbers. lVe also enter the series and other characterindicating marks printed on the order itself. An illustration of thiswill be seen on Fig. 9 where there is the entry I. (l. C.K 2114i Al-lthus indicatingthat the order 2114 appears in the binder A under theindex and sub-index numbers 1.

It will be understood that the index leaves may be printed by the mainonice of the company and furnished to the various agents, thus insuringuniformity of action on the part of the various agents in placing theorders in the loose leaf binders, and it will be clear that by thissystem any oflicer of the company familiar with the method of filing maygo into the office of any agent and be able, by means of the index toturn at once to any particular order which he may desire. This is ofgreat advantage where agents are transferred from one office to anotherand where an employee is sent to a new office for the purpose ofassisting the agent or of taking the place of an agent who is absent.

Orders, notices, etc. sent out by the company are not always operativefrom the date of issue, but take effect at some future date. in order toavoid confusion and to keep these orders separate from those which areactually in force we provide a loose leaf binder for containing theseorders, as shown in Fig. 11. lVe place these orders in a separate binderso that they will not be confused with the operative orders which arecon tained in the loose leaf binder 3. The binder for these inoperativeorders contains separating leaves divided and marked according to monthsfrom January to December, and between the leaves representing twoconsecutive months we place a series of separating leaves numberedconsecutively with the days of the month. The orders are placed betweenthese leaves in accordance with the month and day when they becomeope'ative, and thus the agent can each day turn to the proper page inthis inoperative order file and see just what orders then becomeoperative, and he will then of course take them outof this file andplace them in the loose leaf binder 3 in the proper place, as indicatedabove.

lVhile we have described our system and means for filing orders asparticularly adapted for use by large railroad systems, it is of courseclear that it is adapted for other analogous uses by other companies, orindividuals, and therefore we do not wish to limit ourselves to theparticular use. It can be installed to advantage in a single oflicewithout reference to any other office or offices.

It will be observed that our system is capable of indefinite expansionor contraction to suit the needs of the particular ofiice in which it isused.

While we have shown in the drawing loose leaf binders lettered from A toN it will be understood that a greater or less number may be used andthat they may be consecutively marked in any suitable way.

il hat is claimed is:

l. The combination with a loose leaf )inder, containing separating indexleaves properly marked and sub-index leaves properly marked betweenwhich pages not-ices, circulars and general orders are adapted to beplaced, of an index in the form of a loose leaf binder having pagesalphabetically arranged, the said pages having columns to receive theindex and sub-index numbers as well as the name of the railroad or othercompany referred to in the orders, circulars, etc. placed in the looseleaf binder, and a second index similarly constructed and arrangedcontaining columns for the index and sub-index numbers and a column forthe title of the notices, circulars, etc. by subject-matter.

2. The combination with a loose leaf binder containing separating indexleaves properly marked and sub-index leaves properly marked betweenwhich pages notices, circulars and general orders are adapted to heplaced, of an index in the form of a loose leaf binder having pagesalphabetically arranged, the said pages having columns to receive theindex and sub-index numbers, as well as the name of the railroad orother company referred to in the orders, circulars, etc. placed in theloose leaf binder, a second index similarly constructed and arrangedcontaining columns for the index and subindex numbers and a column forthe title of the notices, circulars, etc. by subject-matter, and a thirdindex in the form of a loose leaf binder iaving pages numberedconsecutively from 00 to 99, the said pages having columns to receivethe numbers of the orders, circutars, etc. classified according to thelast two numerals of the numbers and to receive series marks of saidorders, circulars, etc. as well as the index and sub-index numbers.

The combination with a series of loose leaf binders consecutivelylettered containing separating index leaves properly numbered andsubindex leaves properly numbered adapted to receive notices, circulars,orders, etc. between them, of a name index made up of removable letteredpages, having columns for the names of the notices, circulars, etc, theletters of the loose leaf binders, the index numbers and the sub-indexnumbers.

a The combination with a series of loose leaf binders consecutivelylettered containing separating index leaves properly numbered andsub-index leaves properly numbered adapted to receive notices,circulars, orders, etc. between them, of a name index made up ofremovable lettered pages, having columns for the names of the notices,circulars, etc, the letters of the loose leaf binders, the index numbersand the sub-index numbers, and a subject-matter index made up ofremovable lettered pages having columns for the subject-matter of thenotices, circulars, etc, the letters of the loose leaf binders, theindex numbers and the subindex numbers.

The combination with a series of loose leaf binders consecutivelylettered containing separating index leaves properly numbered andsub-index leaves properly numbered adapted to receivenotices, circulars,

orders, etc. between them of a name index made up of removable letteredpages, having columns for the names of the notices, circulars, etc, theletters of the loose leaf binders, the index numbers and the sub-indexnumbers, a subject-matter index made up of removable lettered pageshaving columns for the subject matter of the notices, circulars, etc,the letters of the loose leaf binders, the index numbers and thesub-index numbers, and a number index made up of removable pagesnumbered from 00 to 99 having columns to receive the letters of theloose leaf binders, the index and sub-index numbers, the series andother identifying marks on the notices, circulars, etc. as Well as thenumbers of the orders classified on the appropriate pages by the lasttwo numerals of the numbers.

6. The combination with a loose leaf binder containing separating indexleaves consecutively numbered and sub-index leaves consecutivelynumbered between said index leaves and adapted to receive and holdbetween them circulars, notices, orders, etc., of a name index for thecirculars, notices, etc., a subject-matter index, and a number index,each of said indexes containing the index and sub-index numbers of theloose leaf binder indicating where each circular, notice, etc. isplaced.

7. The combination with a loosev leaf binder containing separating indexleaves consecutively numbered and sub-index leaves consecutivelynumbered between said index leaves and adapted to receive and holdbetween them circulars, notices, orders, etc, of a name index for thecirculars, notices, etc., a subject matter index, a number index each ofsaid indexes containing the index and sub-index numbers ofthe loose leafbinder indicating where each circular, j

WILLIAM G. SPANGLE. GEORGE W. PARSONS.

WVitnesses:

V. L. FRY, EDWIN PAUL.

